weitz41

So, you did your xmas shopping today at CVS or Walgrens. Pretty sure the rest on the post was not all that important. I hope the fam enjoys the overpriced candle and athletic tape/brace.

I don't disagree completely. Subtract the last 40 games of 2024 and would you think the team needs big changes? Probably not. Add in little to zero payroll to work with. What do you do? Run it back is the easiest solution. Hope for 162 games of the 120 games you got in 2024 and you're a playoff team. Then Hope (again) for players progressing in a positive way. Again, run it back makes the most sense. No stars at 1B or a great RH platoon outfielder hasn't been on the roster for a long time. So sadly, improving the roster with that kind of restrictions is imo like I said before. Big moves can maybe change that but bumping payroll for a platoon player or two one 1-year contracts. I do not believe that will make a difference.

I like this proposal more than most I've seen this off season. I'm just not sure SP is what the Twins need. Nardi, is I guy I'd love to see in a Twins uniform. IDk the BTV # but I'd do Culpepper plus a throw in for Nardi alone.

It's got to be tough finding anything to write about with a second offseason of pretty much run it back looking like the most likely path. I get turning over every stone. Does it make the team better. No then move on. Trading Castro for a lesser player makes little sense at this point. Like many others have said, as part of a larger trade for someone with more upside. Ok I'm listening. Alcantara for say Castro and Topa plus a throw in or two might get you there. Even then I might prefer Castro and Topa over a mostly unproven Alcantara. Realistically,...It's like threading a needle, with your eyes closed, while riding a horse to upgrade this roster without any payroll to work with.

Man o Man..To be honest I have not read the article...The title is enough for me to want to respond...in just 2024 and only 86 games CC produced 3.7 WAR. This took a while and maybe I missed one but as far as I can tell in 2007 Jason Barlett in 140 games was the 1st SS to have more War (4.6) then CC. So, 17 years of Meh. Hell, yeah CC is worth every penny. ZERO regrets..

Perkins for sure, I'd say Erikson but that was more being at the right place, at right time. Reardon was too short a time to get there. The rest were before my time.

This may be one of the better trade suggestions I've seen lately. BUT Paddack and Vesquez plus Duran or Jax is way too much. Paddack, Vasquez and (using MLB) the 10 - 15 range is fair. So maybe Mercedes or Cory Lewis. Suzuki does fit well IMO into the OF/team needs. plus, payroll drops enough to make it work this season and maybe next. I like it

Yes, but on a purely stat based comparison. in 154 career games Lewis has 3.4 war .825 OPS and 122 OPS+ That is close to equal to Kirby age 25 season of 161 game played and his 2.9 war .715 ops and 92 ops+ Last year people were talking about Brook Lee moving to 1st. Now it's Lewis. Relax folks

Jordan Walker would be an add that I would be interested in. Not as an OFer but as a 3rd baseman. He only went to the OF because of Arenado. From what I read it sounds like was a pretty good there. I'm not sure where all this trade Lewis stuff came from. 1/2 a season does not sour me on him. Baseball isn't instant gratification or stardom. Royce Lewis 25 MIN AL 0.7 82 325 292 40 68 16 0 16 47 0 0 28 74 .233 .295 .452 .747 107 .315 99 132 5 0 0 5 2 5D/H4 .747 ops and 107 ops+ that isn't terrible 25 MIN AL 2.9 161 744 691 80 199 29 13 4 74 21 12 41 87 .288 .330 .385 .715 92 .327 90 266 9 4 5 3 .715 ops and 92 ops+ 2.5x more ab and 2x games played..Same age and their 2nd season in the bigs..and this is? Kirby Puckett

I bit bored and wanted to throw something different from my 1st attempt. So here we go. I want to redo pay roll (under the right sized look) So I'm forced to move Pablo Lopez to start the adjustment. I'm not about to just send him out. I want real value back. Pablo Lopez for Tristan Casas, Blaze Jordan and Luis Guerrero. Add Guerrero to out 40 man. So, we're at 38 of 40. Doc Gast is obsessed with a future catcher per BTV. BUT I see one that makes a lot of sense to me. 1st is settled for me with Casas. I have Miranda and Julien with no home. I'm trading Julien to Seatle for Henry Ford. even up. He's my Vasquez replacement in 2026. Julien goes on to have a great career in Seattle. To many infielders and too few AB for all of them. Ok to payroll. So, -21.75 for that Pablo trade. .8 for Casas and .8 for Luis Guerrero plus a minor leaguer. 21.15 Mil available... I sign Shane Bieber to a 2-year deal 12mil for year 1 and 24 for year two as a club option. No buy outs. he's likely to miss the 1st half. So, 12 Mil for half a season buys me the club option for 24 mil. Relax. Vasquez, Casto and Paddack make the +12 no big deal if we pick it up. In fact, we have a lot of payroll available for 2026 if things do (some)/ don't (a lot) work out Austin Hays is someone I've wanted the Twins to add for a few seasons now. So now that it doesn't cost anything but money, I'm all in. 6.5 Mil to Austin Hays to be our 4th OFer. By mid-season he'll be our 2nd or 3rd OFer. 21.75-.8-.8-12-6.5. Leaves me with 1.65 Mil I want to trust Cody Funderburk but I'm just not there. Give me the $ for AJ Minter...No then I'll settle on Danny Coulombe. For 7 mil over 3 years. (2,2,3) Festa, Matthews, Raya and so on will have to hold their own till Beiber returns. The team as a whole I think is much better. Beiber returning to form is the may be a champ or not even close. C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M) 1B: Tristan Casas ($0.80M) 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($2.30M) SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M) LF: Trevor Larnach ($2.10M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.80M) 4th OF: Austin Hays ($6.5M) Utility: Willi Castro ($6.20M) Utility: Austin Martin ($0.80M) Backup C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M) NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Shane Bieber ($12.00M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M) SP4: Chris Paddack ($7.50M) SP5: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($3.70M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M) RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.50M) RP: Cole Sands ($0.80M) RP: Justin Topa ($1.30M) RP: Louie Varland ($0.80M) RP: Danny Coulombe ($2.00M) NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 1.00% under budget

I want to believe that Jenkins is the next in line for the face of the franchise type of player. Pucket to Santana to Mauler to ok a bit of a gap there...Radke? to Buxton to Correa/Buton to Jenkins?? If you want to nitpick there are players, you can throw in there for a year or two. Go nuts. Just a generic who's who. Hoping it ends up that way..

This makes a lot of sense. Let's say for that sake of augment. The Twins hold onto Paddack and his 7.5 mil the upcoming season. If you sign Sandoval for 2 years 10-12 mil and back load it, it's a wash. Plus, it would buy time for another pitcher or two to establish themselves. If Paddack or Sandoval has a great season, then you have the qualifying offer angle. I like it. Seems like a win win. Even if neither has a great year heading to free agency.

OK, OK I updated my offseason wish list. Missed a few things that made it so he is in my BP. Satisfied? :)

To me it doesn't sting at all. It's like trading Eduardo Escobar for a package with Jhoan Duran in it. Not unlike the Yankees. The Twins traded a player they didn't need that season for a scratch off ticket. Sometimes you get more then you gave up. Most times you don't. There is no way the Diamond backs could have seen Jhoan being what he is today just like Gil to the Twins. Congrats and move on.

I had to make some edits. IDK how but I had SWR at 8 mil rather then .8 Was still a bit out of line with the hopeful + 5mil to payroll so ditched Boyd and added Tonkin to the BP. Hopefully the depth holds up in AAA To Richie: I'm looking a Lee as my back up SS. We have few players that can shift to 2nd base if needed. Martin, Eeles, Helman and Julian,

I'm trying a few trades to make things work. Likely they won't all happen. But it's worth a shot. I'm Trading Willi Castro and C.J Culpepper to the Braves for Drake Baldwin and Dylan Lee. Lee is my target. But Baldwin helps me move on from Christain Vasquez and his salary. Once that goes through, I can go after my second target. Yandy Diaz from the Rays. This trade is a little light on the Rays side, so I do include 6.0 mil to make it an almost 0 cost for the Rays. Yandy Diaz for Chris Paddack, Christain Vasquez and Jose Miranda. Plus, Yandy has a 12M option for next season Now IMO I'm down to needing someone who crushes lefties and plays in the OF...Hmmm...Austin Martin just doesn't quit do it for me. So, I'm digging deep and looking where hopefully someone no one else is. This is a flyer more than anything. Stone Garrett from the nationals. Yeah, I know WHO? The Best I can come up with in trade value from BTV is 7.7...That seems a bit high for a guy with 315 total AB in MLB. Sexy numbers though...Good against righties. 783 OPS and really good against lefties. .874 OPS. This is in ONLY 315 ABs...It's a flyer. Now I need to find a trade target I can part with that resembles the lack of track record..I'm giving up Cole Sand for a long shot that i feel good about in Stone Garrett. I do need a 5% increase in payroll to make this work. I cannot see a possible playoff team without it. Loosing Castro is going to hurt. Paddack hurt depth and trading Miranda feel like it's too soon. But I have to part with talent to get it. Lots of maybe to no way trades but I think it's a reasonable to do list C: Ryan Jeffers ($4.70M) 1B: Yandy Diaz ($10.00M) 2B: Brooks Lee ($0.80M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($2.30M) SS: Carlos Correa ($36.00M) LF: Trevor Larnach ($2.10M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.80M) DH: Edouard Julien ($0.80M) 4th OF: Stone Garrett ($.80M) Utility: Austin Martin ($.80M) Utility: DaShawn Keirsey ($0.80M) Backup C: Drake Baldwin ($.80M) NA: Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.50M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($3.80M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.30M) SP4: David Festa ($0.80M) SP5: Simeon Woods Richardson ($.80M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($3.70M) RP: Griffin Jax ($2.60M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.80M) RP: Dylan Lee ($1.90M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.50M) RP: Louie Varland ($0.80M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M) RP: Micheal Tonkin (1.5M) NA: Dead Money Here ($6.0M) Payroll is 3.13% over budget

Well Cody that title is bound to get clicks and responses. I know so am I. Please excuse if I missed something. 2x cost + injury history and 2x Do you want a different job? Let's move on to players who may need a change of scenery. Still good. I clicked AND I responded.

If he has an option left, I'd bring him be back. I think the shady, no wait I'm hurt, may have saved his last option. Besides that, 1.4(Sportrac) to 1.8 (MLBTR)mil isn't bringing in someone with more upside. I also don't see a real need for a 40-man spot. They will add Raya and maybe Rosario. Remember this rule 5 class is the 5 round 2020 draft. If I have my count right after free agents, possible DFA's I think we're at 36/40. Then there's trade candidates Paddack and Castro. 1.8 mil for Kirlloff or Jay Jackson? Which seems like I better use or higher upside of that $?

I'm in the boat of bring in 1 or 2 low-cost veteran's and if they don't pan out DFA and replace with Dobber, Henriquez, Winder and Headrick. If they still need answers MAYBE Canterino of Prielipp are ready for the BP, more likely Raya or Morris can break in there. There could be others like Stewert and Blewitt out there on minor league deals. Seems like a numbers game. The more options the better. One thing I been looking at is once Ryan went on the IL and Matthews, Festa and SWR were all starting it seems the BP got worn down. I looked at Sept starts for those three and not one start over 5 innings. Although the offense was atrocious, I feel that played a part in the falling apart of the season.

I ask whoever reads this post..How would you have filled the 2025 roster out in May, June or July even August of the 2024 season? My point is are we making WAY too much of the late season collapse? I think most are. Now if you need some spending money for the RH OF or a 5th or 6th starter. I would move Paddack 1st and go with one of Festa or Mathews in his place and spend the 7.5 mil on a platoon RH OFer and if I can pull it off a veteran BP arm. If I need more then I need to look at Castro and Vasquez. I don't think that is necessary. I definitely find the trade one of Lopez, Ryan or Ober as completely counterproductive. Falvey isn't looking for higher draft choices with a possible ownership change. Run it back with a few changes to the fringes. Expect better results than complete regression from the young players, Hope for better health for Correa and another 100 games from Buxton and you're in the playoffs Who thought the Vikings would be 5-1? Who thought the Twins would go 9-18 in September? Relax. Its entertainment. Not your investment portfolio.

I agree, but "right sizing" payroll makes sense if you used that one-time payment on the team and knew that the RSN deal was kaput.

Great article. Not that is upends the general, what was the point, but the BAMTech streaming platform sale was Nov 2022 and the Twins received 30+ mil? from that and signed CC Jan 2023 to the current contract. That may have increased payroll in 2023 to being a record payroll as well. Not defending by any means, but that is another piece that may have played a part in the 2024 payroll reduction. Something I think many have forgotten. No this isn't me providing cover for the Pohlads..

Wait your saying 44 mil in 1984 to 1.4 billion in 2024 isn't a good 40-year investment? My 401K says something different

I liked the stability of having the Pohlad's running the show. This last off season and season will probably make most feel like "good riddance". I'm not so certain it is a good thing. Buck, Correa and Lopez contracts are all due to the Pohlad's. Will the next owner pay for stars? Will the next owners prioritize profits? So, I'm probably 50/50 on the outcome. Unless some billionaire wants something, their buddies doesn't have. Then I would be thrilled.

Neither..To answer the topic question. Yeah, yeah, I know his offense has been terrible. Paying half his salary to move him for Jair Camargo likely similar offense and worse defense makes little to no sense. Jeffers? Now? NO. So, it's a loose loose situation. Ride it out..Hopefully Ovilars is ready late 2025 or opening day 2026. I just don't see this burn it to the stud's mentality from Twins fans. We've had terrible luck with health and growth wise in 2024. Stay the course. Has everyone forgotten 2022?